Alida Valli was only in her thirties and only four years older than Farley Granger, but she looked way older as countess Livia, a frustrated, rich woman who ends up betraying everything and everyone for Franz, a despicable Austrian officer.
The year is 1866, during the Italian independence wars. Venice was occupied by the Austrian army and good Italians were patriots, like countess Livia and her cousin Roberto. Unfortunately, to protect Roberto, Livia ends up madly in love with Franz... Talk about a plan misfiring...
Entrusted with funds to equip Roberto's revolutionary group, Livia ends up giving the money to Franz so that he can corrupt a doctor and avoid fighting. This plan misfires big time, too.
The settings and costumes are opulent since this was a first-class production, which included even some major fighting scenes. Although visually stunning, the problem lies in the despicable nature of the two main characters, both unpleasant and cringe-inducing. Moreover, Valli overacts and more than a middle-aged noblewoman crazily in love (actually, lust) for the first time, she just seems crazy: her face contorts, her eyes seem to bulge out of their sockets while she hysterically begs her lover to love her, degrading herself to the utmost.
Franz is just shallow, greedy, mean... a coward wimp, not even handsome or charming enough to justify such a crazy passion. I disliked the movie the first time I watched it and still disliked it at second sight, possibly even more. The soundtrack is also annoyingly bombastic.
The year is 1866, during the Italian independence wars. Venice was occupied by the Austrian army and good Italians were patriots, like countess Livia and her cousin Roberto. Unfortunately, to protect Roberto, Livia ends up madly in love with Franz... Talk about a plan misfiring...
Entrusted with funds to equip Roberto's revolutionary group, Livia ends up giving the money to Franz so that he can corrupt a doctor and avoid fighting. This plan misfires big time, too.
The settings and costumes are opulent since this was a first-class production, which included even some major fighting scenes. Although visually stunning, the problem lies in the despicable nature of the two main characters, both unpleasant and cringe-inducing. Moreover, Valli overacts and more than a middle-aged noblewoman crazily in love (actually, lust) for the first time, she just seems crazy: her face contorts, her eyes seem to bulge out of their sockets while she hysterically begs her lover to love her, degrading herself to the utmost.
Franz is just shallow, greedy, mean... a coward wimp, not even handsome or charming enough to justify such a crazy passion. I disliked the movie the first time I watched it and still disliked it at second sight, possibly even more. The soundtrack is also annoyingly bombastic.